Catholic Saints Podcast

Episode: Remembering the Dead and Celebrating the Saints
Host: Tim Gray (A), President of the Augustine Institute
Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Klein (B), Augustine Institute Faculty
Date: November 1, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the intertwined Catholic feasts of All Saints and All Souls, delving into their spiritual significance, historical roots, and rich traditions. Host Tim Gray and guest Dr. Elizabeth Klein discuss how these holy days offer profound opportunities: to remember and pray for the faithfully departed, to celebrate the exemplary lives of the saints, and to invite the faithful into a deeper appreciation of death through the lens of Christian hope and resurrection. They reflect on traditions, theology, and ways families can integrate these themes into their lives, even within the broader, often secular, backdrop of Halloween.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Origins and Appropriation of Halloween (00:06–04:38)

• Cultural Shifts: Tim humorously recalls childhood Halloweens, noting how the day has become highly commercialized and disconnected from its original spiritual purpose.
• Catholic "Morbid" Traditions: Elizabeth observes that Catholics are often perceived as morbid due to practices like veneration of relics and saints' sufferings, and highlights how Halloween shares in this embrace of death.
  • Quote [01:50]: “Catholics are often accused of being morbid. You know, we put bones in churches, we venerate them, the relics of the saints…” – Elizabeth
• Saints Costumes as Evangelization: Both discuss how their families reclaimed Halloween by dressing up as saints rather than secular characters, turning the day into an opportunity for joyful catechesis.
  • Quote [03:11]: “We could outdo gruesome.” – Tim, referencing the martyrdom-themed saints costumes

2. The Spiritual Meaning of All Saints and All Souls (05:28–08:38)

• Facing Death with Hope: Elizabeth points out that All Saints and All Souls embody hope in the resurrection, encouraging deep reflection on death and the afterlife within the safety of faith.
  • Quote [05:28]: “It’s one of our surest signs of our hope in the resurrection.” – Elizabeth
• Praying for and with the Dead: They articulate the ‘Catholic distinctiveness’ of communion with the dead—praying for souls and asking saints for intercession.
  • Quote [06:01]: “We do dead better than they do.” – Tim

3. The Communion of Saints and Liturgical Family (08:38–11:40)

• Charity for the Dead: The hosts explain how praying for deceased loved ones is an act of charity and familial love, naturally incorporated into Catholic family life.
  • Quote [09:09]: “The fact that we’re praying for Grandma and Grandpa… tells our son, okay, you can pray. This is charity… We still love them, we keep them in our hearts.” – Tim
• Litany of the Saints: The recitation of saints’ names in the liturgy connects the faithful with their spiritual ancestry and namesakes.
  • Quote [10:43]: “It reminds me too of Old Testament passages where you have these genealogies laid out… if you compare that to something like a litany, where you’re hearing, those are your ancestors, that’s your family.” – Elizabeth

4. Relics, Resurrection, and the "Spookiness" of Christianity (11:40–15:35)

• Veneration of Relics: Elizabeth explains the veneration of physical relics serves as a concrete reminder of the resurrection.
  • Quote [12:41]: "The reason that we venerate relics is because we believe that those saints will get their bodies back at the resurrection..."
• Christian Approach to Death: Christians brought bones into churches, counterculturally embracing both the reality and hope inherent in death.
  • Quote [14:18]: "Really, Christians are like, the original spooky." – Elizabeth

5. Distinguishing Catholic Hope from Secular Ghoulishness (15:06–16:06)

• From Ghoulish to Glorious: The hosts contrast the secular fascination with the macabre with the Church’s celebration of sainthood and hopeful resurrection.
  • Quote [15:35]: “…the celebration of the dead is not about sort of scary, you know, blood and guts. It’s about the hope of perfection and the hope of heaven.” – Elizabeth

6. Theological Clarifications: Purgatory and the Afterlife (16:06–24:21)

• Prayers for the Dead and Purgatory: In-depth discussion of purgatory as a ‘final purgation’—not a physical place, but a state for souls growing in perfect love, aided by the prayers of the living.
  • Quote [16:57]: “The Catholic doctrine in purgatory is actually kind of sparse... It’s a final purgation after death.” – Elizabeth
• Heaven, Hell, and the Analogy of Fire: Tim and Elizabeth use analogies from Scripture (e.g., Isaiah’s purgation by fire) to explain how only pure love can endure God’s presence.
  • Quote [19:47]: “…these are three states of the soul… We tend to think of them as a place… but they’re fundamentally a state.” – Elizabeth
• Communion Across Death: The efficacy of love’s relationship: the prayers for departed loved ones help them complete their journey to God.
  • Quote [23:00]: “When we pray for a loved one in purgatory… they feel loved, and it strengthens their love. It puts them on that journey to pure love, to become closer and to be with God fully.” – Tim

7. Saints: Our Spiritual Role Models (24:21–25:45)

• The Victory of the Saints: The feast of All Saints celebrates those who have triumphed in Christ, serving as elder siblings, role models, and a “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12).
• Mutual Prayer and Encouragement: The saints in heaven “cheer us on,” just as we cheer for the souls in purgatory.

8. Joy, Death, and True Catholic Identity (25:45–27:36)

• Laughing at Death: Catholic tradition uniquely blends joy and the realities of death, reclaiming even Halloween as a celebration of faith and the resurrection.
  • Quote [25:45]: “We can, in a way, celebrate death and laugh at death because we know death is defeated and we know that it ends in the lives of the saints.” – Elizabeth
  • Quote [26:24]: “For Christians, we’re relativists when it comes to death because we know that we’re dead… but they will be awakened by Christ in his second Coming and given back their bodies.” – Tim

9. Practical Takeaways for Catholic Families (28:06–end)

• Integrating Faith and Celebration: The hosts encourage listeners to approach Halloween and the holy days with joy, wisdom, and creativity.
  • Incorporate saint-themed costumes and parties.
  • Remember and pray for the deceased, bringing family photos or relics into view.
  • Celebrate All Saints with special meals or gatherings.
• Final Encouragement: Tim urges listeners to let joy, faith, and Christian wisdom shape their celebrations—turning even commercial traditions to an opportunity for witness.
  • Quote [28:06]: “We just have to use our wisdom to overcome the world in Christ, right? And to celebrate All Souls Day with faith and to really celebrate the solemnity of all Saints…”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Elizabeth: “Catholics are often accused of being morbid. You know, we put bones in churches, we venerate them...” (01:50)
• Tim: “We do dead better than they do." (06:01)
• Elizabeth: “The reason that we venerate relics is because we believe that those saints will get their bodies back at the resurrection.” (12:41)
• Elizabeth: “Christians are like, the original spooky.” (14:18)
• Elizabeth: “The celebration of the dead is not about sort of scary, you know, blood and guts. It’s about the hope of perfection and the hope of heaven.” (15:35)
• Tim: “The fact that we’re praying for Grandma and Grandpa during that time, that tells our son, okay, you can pray. This is charity… We still love them, we keep them in our hearts.” (09:09)
• Tim: “When we pray for a loved one in purgatory… they feel loved, and it strengthens their love. It puts them on that journey to pure love, to become closer and to be with God fully.” (23:00)
• Elizabeth: “We can, in a way, celebrate death and laugh at death because we know death is defeated.” (25:45)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:06–04:38 – Halloween’s cultural trajectory; family saints traditions
• 05:28–08:38 – All Saints/All Souls: hope, praying for the dead
• 08:38–11:40 – Charity for the dead; the Catholic liturgical family
• 11:40–15:35 – Relics, resurrection, Christian “spookiness”
• 16:06–22:13 – Prayers for the dead and purgatory explained; biblical analogies
• 23:00–25:45 – Communion among saints/purgatory; the race with a "cloud of witnesses"
• 25:45–28:06 – Joy, death, and healthy desire for heaven; practical advice for families

Episode Tone and Language

The conversation maintains a warm, candid, and engaging tone, blending theological depth with personal stories and relatable humor. The speakers strike a balance between reverent education and friendly encouragement, always speaking from the heart of Catholic tradition and family experience.

For Listeners New to the Topic

This episode provides a compelling and accessible guide to the meaning behind All Saints and All Souls, offering practical and spiritual ways to reclaim and enrich these days in Catholic homes. It will especially resonate with listeners seeking to navigate contemporary culture while remaining rooted in the profound hope and joy of the communion of saints.